Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Celebrated mountaineer Nirmal Purja aka Nimsdai has been conferred with an honorary doctorate by Loughborough University in recognition of his extraordinary achievements.
Purja gained international acclaim in 2019 for conquering all 14 peaks above 8,000 meters in just six months and six days. This remarkable journey has been documented in the gripping 2021 Netflix documentary, ’14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible.’
Born in Nepal, Purja embarked on a distinguished 16-year military career, spending six years as a Gurkha and 10 years with the UK Special Forces. It was during this tenure that his interest in mountaineering grew into a fervent passion, marked by numerous record-breaking summits and high-altitude rescue missions.
His association with Loughborough University began in 2012 when he enrolled in the Business School to pursue a Post-Graduate Diploma in Security Management which he successfully completed in 2014. He received an MBE in 2018 for his outstanding achievements in extreme high-altitude mountaineering. In 2022, the Business School honored him with a Distinguished Alumni Award, recognizing not only his exceptional successes in mountaineering but also his commitment to the United Nations Environment Programme and the mountain community in Nepal.
Reflecting on the honorary degree, Purja said he was grateful and humble to receive the honoray degree from Loughborough University. “It will always hold a special place in my heart,” he said, emphasizing the transformative power of education.
Nirmal Purja MBE was officially conferred the title of Doctor of the University, during Loughborough’s winter graduation service on Thursday, marking a significant milestone in his illustrious journey and solidifying his place as one of the greatest climbers of his generation.
